Seeing as snuff taking is a very traditional pastime (at its peak in the Georgian and Victorian eras), I was wondering whether any snuff takers here take at least some gratification in the fact that it is such a traditional, almost antiquated hobby? And does anyone, have an interest in novels from the era (18th/19th century) or read/ watch non-fiction/ documentaries about those times? Personally I’m particularly fascinated with 19th century/early 20th C literature such as Sherlock Holmes, Poe, Lovecraft, H. Rider Haggard etc and knowing that I’m indulging in something that was so prevalent all them years ago I think adds a bit to the glamour of snuff taking for me. (Aside from the obvious delights of a nice nicotine buzz :p). Anyone else feel that way… or am I being wierd again !?

Half of the fun for me is the fact that snuff is a very antiquated form of tobacco use. I love the snuff boxes and hankies, the way it looks to take a pinch, or make a pile on the back of a hand. I see it as a gentlemen’s form of tobacco. I love it. When it comes to literature, I also love Doyle, Poe, and Lovecraft. Ever watch some of the OLD Sherlock Holmes serials/shows? That’s a great watch with a pinch. My favorite Holmes story is “The Blue Carbuncle”.

Yes, I love the fact that snuff taking has an old and illustrious history - dandies, fops and all that malarkey. The whole ritual of it is so much more dashing IMHO than simply sparking up a cigarette; the hankies, the passing of the snuff box is all very attractive to me, and it feels good to be carrying on the tradition.

I agree with all of you, but it is not just a gentleman’s pastime as tofffenose will attest. Also many Victorian and Georgian ladies were snuff takers. I too love the literature of those periods. I also can’t get enough of period dramas and historical dramas. I’ve read all the Holmes stuff, a goodly bit of Dickens and even my own countrymen, Poe and Hawthorne. Recently I was watching the John Adams series. I didn’t see any snuff taking though. I saw a lot of pipe and cigarillo smoking (especially by him.) He may not have been a snufftaker (damn Federalist!), Washington was and I think Jefferson was, but I did not see them taking any snuff in the show. All in all there was a certain elegance to the time, at least among certain classes, which I think is mostly lost. So yes, I am romantic for it.

I agree, it’s like going back in history a little way. I make quite a ritual of my snuff taking as I also did while I was still smoking a pipe. I only wish that more people should do it. Cigarette smoking is just a bad habit, there is no glamour to it. Just watch someone smoking, half closing the eyes against the twirling smoke, no joy on the face. I also love reading history about my own country. The first settlers arrived here on 6th of April 1652 and I enjoy books about those days. I also live in an erea, near Cape Town, where I can actually SEE the remains of those times. A couple of farms in our district were laid on in those years and I visit there frequently when we go mountain biking. And, I ALWAYS take some snuff with me on the outings.

I saw a guy today wearing a T-shirt which says: “I put the MAN in romance”. One can’t LIVE without it

There is nothing finer than poping open a black laquer snuff box and offering a pinch (Which some that I work with will take). Pieter, I agree with you about cigs. I do not condemn anyone for their choice, as I know that some do enjoy it (the RYO crowd). It’s really depressing that snuff has not taken off in the states, I think it could be a whole new industry that could help us out in these rough times. I have had an idea of a “Snuff Bar” for a few years. Kind of like the Hookah bars that are around, except with snuff. I think it could work. This prise is for you, gents.

Pieter, my favorite author was a sort of countryman of yours, namely J.R.R. Tolkien. Although he is considered part of English literature, he was born and lived for a few years in South Africa. His name is Dutch, as you can tell. He also had a great love of this period and this is evidenced in his writing, even though he lived most of his life in the mid 20th century, his writing is very much 19th. Although his style is 19th, he himself was obviously romantic for mostly medieval period literature. Compare him to that 19th century master Mallory who romanticized King Arthur and turned a medieval story into a 19th century masterpiece. Tolkien an ardent pipe smoker though. I never heard of him using snuff.

Aha great to see so many like-minded people! It was due to watching the Jeremy Brett (RIP) series of Sherlock Holmes (1986-1994) that I got into snuff… His Brother Mycroft Holmes (played by the great Charles Gray (RIP)) being a constant snuff user, whereas Sherlock and Dr Watson mainly preferred the pipe (and the cocaine in Sherlock’s case!)… So after watching I figured hmmm I wonder if snuff is still available…and google did the rest. A story of how Conan-Doyle is posthumously helping to sell snuff in the 21st Century By the way, cstokes, ‘The blue carbuncle’ is a favourite of mine too; a christmas classic (probably good with a bit of Toque Xmas pudding!). And I love the late 30’s/ early 40’s Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes series (a landmark in early cinema if you ask me). As to whether Brett or Rathbone did a better Holmes I can’t decide I’m glad we’re all here prolonging the snuff taking tradition into the 21st century and beyond!..

Love history, especially the Regency period when snuffing was at its hight. Its certainly one of the things that interested me when I started and for me it was probably more to do with snuff boxes than snuff, which is why to this day I never carry a snuff in its brand tin - got to be a snuff box or I don’t feel like I’m doing it right!

Ah, Snuffster - today I’ve put on my waistcoat and I’m carrying my snuff boxes and hankie in the pockets - you’re right, it feels GOOD!

That’s why I wear a waistcoat - the pockets are perfect for carrying an assortment of snuffs. Any sign of your parcel of Checkerberry yet?

And I’m after one of them waistcoats, always envy ermtony’s when in our local. He looks like a waiter on the Pullman Train.

It’s this one.Not exactly cheap but I do like it and it’s very well made.

Hey nice waistcoat, good to see people (who aren’t professional snooker players) wearing them! I would dearly love to walk round in a waistcoat with a pocket watch and a snuff box all day

I’ll start saving the money, I’ve that electric bill to pay

Hi Tony - the Checkerberry was waiting for me when I got in yesterday, thanks very much. It’s quite wintergreen-y, isn’t it? Might take a little time getting used to that one. I got my waistcoat in a second hand shop in Camden last week for a tenner - bargain!

Great to hear, Debbie! At least, great to hear that the snuff arrived quickly. If that flavour in Checkerberry is wintergreen I’ll have to take your word for it as I’m not familiar with that one. I felt I gave the snuff a fair go but it really didn’t sit well with me. Frustrating, having seen so many people here praising its virtues. Oh well. It would be a funny and a boring world if we all had the same tastes. I guess if you find you’re not into that snuff then the can could potentially become pretty well travelled I’ll be taking the sample of Grunt to the pub with me this evening so we’ll see what Snuff Head thinks of it. I’m certainly enjoying it. A tenner for a waistcoat!! You lucky b-b-b-b-person!

Coconuts, That what it is. I like the taste of coconuts. That Grunt you did an exchanged with ermtony - toffeenose is great. Tony gave me some pinches in our local last night. Oh It’s great. Thanks Tony & Debbie for sharing.

I was starting to write about the subject oaxaca, with the subject line “Memoirs of a SpaCEKadeT” I quoted “Duke of Sussex, Cambridge and Duchess…” from the Fribourg & Treyer tin and got writer’s block. It is indeed gratification, after looking at some of the history, in my mind, I keep seeing a person of nobility smack a servant because the snuff given to them was too medicated. I’m just glad I found it. (Snuff)

Actualy I like the history of snuff only partialy. I mean it’s cool but in all honesty unless I’am doing a snuff that is from what feels like a very old reciepe it’s probably the furthest thing from my mind. Snuff just seems like more of a conisuers thing period to me then something old fashioned. Then again when it was introduced to me I didn’t know it had a very old tradion. Though it seems like a very pure way to enjoy tobacco.

I love the history but I also love that it has been updated with some new brands. I do wonder if the F&T I’m snuffing is the same as the Duke of Sussex had and did he like it as well as I do? Oh yes, you can’t go wrong with Doyle or Lovecraft.

Well Jarhog, the thing with F&T is that although they’ve been going since the 1700’s, the company closed in the 1980’s and the snuffs are now made by Wilsons of Sharrow. Also the tobacco used was originally Cuban, now it is Zimbabwean (damn, does that mean we snuffers are in some way propping up Mugabe’s government? I’m not happy about that.) WoS only manufacture 13 types, there were a load more varieties than that, so we’re not snuffing the exact snuff that the Duke did, but a modern variant on it. Personally, I see the Toque brand being held in the same regard as F&T by future snuffers - even though they’re so new to the scene they have the same unimpeachable standards of quality and are pretty much the best snuff makers around in my humble opinion.

that Hawthorne adaptation sounds really good! The books I really want to read at the moment are Thomas deQuinceys ‘Confessions of an English Opium Eater" and Matthew Lewis’ The Monk. I also love the old 50’s-70’s gothic horror films by film studios such as Hammer, Amicus, etc, which generally starred Christpher Lee (now of Lord of the Rings fame) and the awesome Peter Cushing. As well as Roger Corman’s Poe adaptations which nearly all starred Vincent Price. Ahhh great films

I passed through Shelburne, Nova Scotia about a month after the film crew that made “The Scarlet Letter” left. They left all their sets for the town to use as part of its historical center. An interesting side note is that Shelburne was founded in the late 1700’s by fleeing (ahem) “Loyalists” who wanted to remain “British” after the American War for Independence. So technically they are all Americans there! There is a neighboring town, whose name escapes me, that was founded by Black slaves who were given freedom for remaining loyal to the crown. The Continetal Army then had to also give freedom to any black who volunteered to fight (I guess they were losing too many to the Brits). End historical lesson of the day.